Microsoft Confirms It Will Reveal the Next Xbox on May 21

Microsoft confirmed my exclusive report that it will reveal the next Xbox in a special event on May 21. The firm originally intended to reveal this eagerly anticipated device today, on April 24, but pushed back the schedule to better respond to Sony’s recent PlayStation 4 announcement.

“On Tuesday May 21, we’ll mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV and entertainment,” a Microsoft statement reads. “On that day, we’ll be holding a special press event on the Xbox campus and we invite you to join us via the live global stream that will be available on Xbox.com, Xbox LIVE and broadcast on Spike TV if you are in the US or Canada.”

Microsoft is planning a staged launch for the next Xbox. The reveal is Tuesday, May 21 in Redmond, as noted. This will be followed by a “showcase [of its] full lineup of blockbuster games” at the E3 trade show on June 9. And then, at the BUILD conference in San Francisco in late June, Microsoft will reveal its developer plans for the next Xbox, which is based on Windows 8 Core.

I’m not sure yet what kind of coverage I’ll be providing for the next Xbox. When the Xbox 360 arrived 8 years ago, I was hoping to bring some maturity and context to video game reviewing, but saw little success drawing attention away from what I still feel are largely childish video gaming sites. This time around, I suspect I’ll stick to the machine itself, the digital media and entertainment functionality, and whatever cross-device integration (SmartGlass, home network access, etc.) it provides.

Discuss this Article 17

Paul, I commend your attempts to bring maturity to the discussion. It's something the gaming industry is sorely lacking. That's one thing I appreciate about your site, the mature (most of the time ;) ) insight you bring that allows for a much higher quality reading than what we find on many of the blogs that do nothing but shovel whatever **** they can find on the net (with them rarely actually vetting it). Quality over quantity.

I wish there was a gaming equivalent to winsupersite to counter the crap that passes for gaming news out there. I hope you do focus on the non-gaming aspects of the Xbox, because I think that is the future of the console, the device for the living room that does it all. To which gaming is a (big) piece but the console doesn't solely revolve around it. IMO, the immaturity of gamers doesn't allow them to:

I could not possibly agree more. Arstechnica is a shining beacon of quality long-format, highly detailed, product and technology reviews. Anandtech is another great resource on my short-short-list. And of course, you can't do better than the SuperSite for Microsoft news.

I used to think tablets were stupid, but I kinda enjoy sitting back in a comfortable chair, with a cup of strong coffee, working though a big tech article. It's how technology people relax I guess...a sickness maybe.

Although I don't own an xBox (or any console--the PC is simply far superior for gaming at this point) and am not planning to own a console of any kind, I still hope that Microsoft is using the extra month or so to do away with any planned "always on" (meaning the new xBox becomes a worthless paperweight if not connected to the Internet) requirement for the new xBox. Sony has already announced no similar requirement for the PS4, so Microsoft should be very careful in how it approaches the subject.

Again, this is one of those bellwether issues--just like the popularity of Windows 7 with its Explorer UI--in which Microsoft would have to tune out most all customer commentary in order to ignore. The xBox360 was very popular and sold like gangbusters and allowed people to use the console whether on or off the Internet. Hint to Microsoft in case it is needed: your xBox customers are not buying the Internet from you--they are buying a gaming console with the ability to (optionally) connect to the Internet.

My son tells me he knows of several friends of his who own both PCs and xBoxen, and they report to him that the PC has the Internet connect far more often than their 360s. "xBox live" should be optional unless Microsoft is planning to heavily subsidize the asking price with a 2-3year subscription to Live. But even then, I think that an "always connected" requirement for the next xBox will hurt it overall--especially against other competitors who sell comparable products but leave the Internet connection optional for their customers.

I have sat out of buying consoles since the original Play Station, which was a gift. I see no point of buying a console today UNLESS Microsoft can figure out a way of making the Xbox my home entertainment center. I may renew Netflix and watch it via my Samsung blu-ray player. I'm already viewing content via iPad apps. Most major networks (ABC,CBS,NBC, and many cable channels) have free iPad apps. I'll wait and see. I may go for a Roku.

Yeah, there is no use trying to talk to video game fanboys. I used to follow gaming news. It was nothing but teenagers constantly bickering over whose preferred console is the best. They're all video games. Why can't we all just get along?

I am still looking forward to seeing what the new console will bring to the table. The main reason I own a Roku is I don't want to wait for the Xbox to load, then sign in to my gold account and then scroll to the apps section of the dashboard just to watch Amazon instant video. I'm hoping the next Xbox will solve this issue.

It is a good for one thing, it will raise a bar as far as gaming quality goes. PC Gamers suffered for years because of XBOX 360 by playing poorly ported games with a graphic much less than what actual PC can push. I am glad there are companies like Crytek which fully utilize greatest and latest hardware on PC.

I'm very much looking forward to this, although this generation I went for the PS3 due to blu-ray and free internet gaming. Unforunately, I shall go the same way with the next generation until Microsoft can compete with Sony in this way... it's kind of a shame as I'd like to have everything Microsoft at home!

While I don't know the age and amount of gaming most people do that frequently visit this site. I believe I am apart of the demographic that Microsoft is targeting. Early 30's, male, married, so on so forth. I've been a subscriber to Live since the beta, get most if not all my movies from xbox movies, subscribe to their music, Netflix, MLB and NHL. I am pretty close to cutting the cord and depending on what Microsoft has to offer they could push me that way with what they have coming out or I could severely reduce what content I get from the cable company to what I will get from "Xbox Entertainment". I see my Xbox 360 as my true entertainment hub already and am excited for them to add to it (NFL anyone?). Not only that though, I have never felt that I am not getting the gaming experience that I should be or that the PS3 has better games than Xbox. It's just a different console with different games with a different experience and what they are offering is not what I am looking for. Not saying that I don't play some of those games. I really enjoyed the Uncharted series, god of war, Infamous and a few others. But nothing compares to the social experience I can get with friends with the fantastic online play of Xbox Live. Fully connected or not (Mine is always connected anyway, probably along with every other gold member) I will be purchasing an Xbox.On that note, I am looking forward to what they will be revealing in the next couple of months and the actual launch in November.

reveal now and ship in November? clearly they've learned nothing from apple and how to launch a product. they should simply come out in full force in October 15, big press events, tons of games, on sale in two weeks and pre-order now link. capitalize on impulse buy.

I appreciate all the information that you are collecting & presenting on the next Xbox. That's why I've pretty much ignored the "video game" websites & just gotten my information pretty much from you.

Any attempt to mature the video game discussion is very much wanted & appreciated. Also, when you drop information on the Xbox, I link to your articles on my Facebook or Google+ & give you full credit. My friends who are not tech saavy love that I know where the best information is coming from. Thanks again.

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